Digoxin
Class:
Cardiac glycoside.
Actions:
Increases cardiac contractile force, increases cardiac output, reduces edema
associated with congestive heart failure, slows AV conduction.
Indications:
Congestive heart failure, rapid atrial arrhythmias, especially atrial flutter
and atrial fibrillation.
Contraindications:
Any patient with signs or symptoms of digitalis, toxicity, ventricular
fibrillation.
Precautions:
Monitor for signs of digitalis toxicity. Patients who have recently suffered a
myocardial infarction have greater sensitivity to the effects of digitalis.
Calcium should not be administered to patients receiving digitalis.
Side Effects:
Nausea, vomiting, arrhythmias, yellow vision.
Dosage:
0.25-0.50 mg.
Routes:
IV.
Pediatric Dosage:
25-40 µg/kg.
Note: Feel free to discuss this medication and your experiences in administering it in an emergency or hospital based setting on our message board
